Car Brakes & Brake Parts
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About our range of Brakes
Find the correct brake parts to ensure your vehicle’s brakes work safely.
As one of the UK’s leading suppliers, we have an extensive selection of car brakes and brake parts online and in our 400+ Halfords garages nationwide.
We offer a wide range of brakes and brake parts from top brands, catering to different manufacturers, models, budgets, and requirements. Whether you need brake discs for your BMW or cylinders for your Honda Civic, you'll find exactly what you're looking for at Halfords.
Buy Car Brake Parts Online
Replacing brake parts is essential for safety, preventing further damage to your vehicle, ensuring long-lasting performance, and adhering to manufacturer recommendations. It also helps maintain optimal braking performance, reduces the risk of accidents, and preserves warranties.
Brake discs, work with your brake pads to slow down or stop your vehicle when you press the brake pedal.
Often found in older and classic cars, brake drums create friction with brake shoes to slow down or stop your vehicle. Maintaining and replacing brake drums is essential for effective braking and safety.
Brake pads create friction against the brake discs or drums to slow down or stop the vehicle. They wear down over time and require regular replacement to ensure braking performance and safety.
Brake callipers house the car brake pads and piston. They apply force to the brake pads, pressing them against the brake discs to slow down or stop your vehicle. Replacing them at the correct time ensures optimal braking performance, safety and prevents further damage.
When do car brakes need replacing?
Car brakes typically need replacing when the brake pads, discs, or other brake components become worn down or damaged. Brakes usually wear out at the front faster than the rear, but the exact timing for brake replacement can vary depending on driving habits, road conditions, and the type of brake components used. However, there are several indicators that suggest when it’s time to replace your car brakes:
- Squeaky brakes: If you hear a high-pitched squealing noise when applying the brakes, it often indicates that the brake pads have worn down significantly. Brake pads have a built-in wear indicator that emits noise to alert you that they need replacing.
- High handbrake: A handbrake that requires excessive force or pulls up higher than usual can indicate a problem with the handbrake mechanism or the rear brake system. It may be due to worn brake shoes, stretched cables, or a malfunctioning handbrake lever.
- Soft brake pedal: A soft brake pedal that feels spongy or requires increased pressure to engage the brakes may indicate air in the brake lines, a brake fluid leak, or a problem with the master cylinder. This issue can compromise braking performance and should be addressed promptly.
- Sponginess: If the brake pedal feels sponge-like and lacks firmness, it is often caused by air or moisture in the brake lines. It can result from a brake fluid leak, worn seals, or improper brake bleeding. Sponginess affects brake responsiveness and should be resolved to ensure effective braking.
- Grinding: Grinding noises when applying the brakes can suggest that the brake pads have worn down completely and the metal backing is now making direct contact with the brake discs. This metal-on-metal contact can cause damage to the discs and significantly reduce braking performance.
- Pulsating: Pulsating or vibrating sensations felt through the brake pedal during braking usually indicate warped brake discs. Warping can occur due to excessive heat build-up, aggressive braking, or worn-out brake pads. It results in uneven contact between the brake pads and discs, leading to a pulsating feeling when braking.
- Car pulling to one side when braking: If your vehicle pulls to one side when you apply the brakes, it suggests an imbalance in brake pad wear or uneven brake fluid distribution. It could be due to issues such as a stuck calliper, unevenly worn brake pads or brake hose problems.
- Brake warning light on the dashboard: If the brake warning light on your dashboard illuminates, it indicates a potential problem with the brake system. It can be triggered by issues such as low brake fluid, worn brake pads, a malfunctioning ABS (anti-lock braking system), or an electrical fault. Prompt inspection is necessary to diagnose and address the underlying problem.
If you experience any of these brake problems, it’s crucial to have your vehicle inspected and repaired by a qualified mechanic to ensure your safety and restore proper brake function.
Car Brake FAQs
Brake prices can vary based on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as the quality of the product. Brake pads and discs typically range from £12.50 to £52, while brake callipers and drums range from £15 to £174. Please note that these prices are for the parts only.
No, changing a brake part on your vehicle should not affect the warranty if it meets the requirements specified by the manufacturer.
As a leading automotive supplier in the UK, we provide high-quality car brakes and brake parts for renowned manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, and many others. Our extensive selection ensures that you can find the right parts for your vehicle from some of the biggest names in the industry.
Finding the right car parts has never been simpler. Just enter your vehicle registration plate and postcode into our convenient lookup tool. From there, you can browse through our extensive list of car parts. Our selection includes top brands worldwide, all offered at affordable prices. To make things even more convenient, we provide flexible Klarna payment options, allowing you to spread the cost over several months.
Certainly. However, it's important to remember that fitting certain parts can be tricky if you don't have the know-how. If you need help, our team of knowledgeable motoring experts are available at over 400 garages across the UK to fit your new brakes or brake car part quickly and safely.